Bragging Rights on the line in 114th Monmouth-Knox Meeting

Release Date: November 6, 2002

Monmouth's Todd Sabean (wearing a different number than he does this season) runs through a big hole to score a touchdown late in last year's 36-3 victory over the Prairie Fire in the Knox Bowl. Signaling the score is quarterback Rob Purlee. The 114th meeting between the schools is expected to be a much closer battle, as Knox seeks its first seven-win season since 1976 and Monmouth attempts to win its fifth straight game and finish at .500.

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Sure, there’s no Midwest Conference championship up for grabs in Saturday’s Bronze Turkey game between Monmouth and Knox at Bobby Woll Memorial Field at 1 p.m., but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot at stake in the season finale for both teams.

Not since 1987, when the teams played for the South Division title and Monmouth won 24-23, has there been more on the line for both teams. Here’s a brief list of reasons why this 114th meeting
ranks as one of the most significant in the storied rivalry:

• The Scots are hoping to win their fifth straight game, which would equal their longest streak under coach Steve Bell (the Scots won the last game of 2000 and the first four in 2001). The Scots haven’t won five straight games in a single season since 1990.
   
• Knox is seeking its first seven-victory season since 1976 and its second since 1929 (in the ’76 season, the Siwash, as they were called, edged the Scots 32-28, costing Monmouth the outright South Division championship. The wild game featured 963 yards of offense. The Scots were quarterbacked by Dave Purlee, father of current record-setting signal-caller, Rob Purlee).
   
• Monmouth seniors Luke Jackson, Justin Oertle, Scott Stanton, David Wyffels, Casey Koehler, Matt Copple, Nate Tipton, Matt Lerner and Tobias Dickerson are hoping to go 4-for-4 in Bronze Turkey games. Copple (RG), Oertle (S), Lerner (DE) and Dickerson (DE) will be in the starting lineup, while the injured Stanton and Tipton will watch from the sidelines.
   
• If Monmouth wins, it will be the first time both teams have been .500 or better in the same season since 1988.
   
• In addition to the usual large crowd, there will be several Monmouth notables watching, including four new M Club Hall of Fame inductees and members of the Fighting Scots’ unbeaten football team of 1972, which will be celebrating its 30th reunion. On Nov. 11, 1972, nearly 30 years ago to the day, Monmouth beat St. Olaf 27-7 to win the MWC title and finish a perfect 9-0.

Bell, though, can whittle down all of the above to a single sentiment: “We told the kids that if we have to say one single word to motivate them for this game, we’re in trouble. This is why kids play college football. It’s the closest we’re going to get for now to being in the playoffs.”

Since all but one team that does make the playoffs will end the season with a loss, the Scots could enter the 2003 season with one of the longest winning streaks in Division III if they continue
their recent trend of balanced offense performances and strong defensive efforts.

Against Carroll last week, the Scots kept the Pioneers off balance by throwing for 246 yards and running for 255. Defensively, they bottled up Carroll’s ground attack and pressured Brad Dement
into a 14-of-34 passing performance, sacking him five times.

“I thought how we played defensively was the key to the game,” said Bell, whose team limited the Pioneers to just one first down in the game’s first 20 minutes.

End Andy Stumpf was named the MWC’s Defensive Player of the Week for making four tackles for loss, including two sacks, and batting down a pass.

A letdown occurred after the Scots’ early domination, though, and that gave the visitors a glimmer of hope.

“We killed ourselves in the third quarter with special teams penalties,” Bell said.

But a special teamer also saved the Scots, as punter Phil Pullen leaped to save an errant snap and then somehow got the kick away.

“That’s the play of the game in my opinion,” said Bell. “If he doesn’t knock that ball down, they either get a safety or a touchdown and a lot of momentum.”

Instead, Carroll had to drive for a score, finally settling for a field goal. That’s when the other key occurred, as Ed McCracken took off on a punishing 68-yard TD run on the Scots’ first play.
He broke several tackles in the first 10 yards and then was able to gather his balance and turn on enough speed to outrun Carroll’s secondary to the end zone for a 28-10 lead.

“It’s nice to see we can change things up with our running game,” said Bell. “Todd (Sabean) is the type of guy that tries to make you miss, and Ed’s going to try to knock you stiff.”

McCracken finished the game with 141 rushing yards and Sabean had 79. For the year, Sabean has 739 yards on 189 carries, while McCracken, who had just seven carries in Monmouth’s first five
games, is up to 392 yards on 53 attempts.

The duo runs behind a line – comprised of Copple, Jon Newcomb, Scott DePue, Dan Wingler and Brett Black– that Bell says is “much better than the start of the season. They’re not rookies
anymore. They’ve got nine games as a unit under their belts. Their improved play is going to have to carry over to this week.”

Like Monmouth, Knox is strong on both sides of the ball (fourth in total offense and fifth in total defense compared to the Scots’ fifth and fourth rankings, respectively). So although you can throw out the records, as is often said in this rivalry, both teams have some pride in their season standings. One more victory, however, would make their seasons a little bit sweeter.

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